Contract Extended for Notre Dame of Maryland University President

Dr. Yam became the University’s 14th president in July 2014. The new contract began January 1st of 2016.

Board Chair Gino Gemignani noted, “During a time of great challenge and change in higher education, we are very pleased to have President Yam continue at the helm to provide leadership for our institution. We have the utmost confidence in her vision and commitment to NDMU, and fully support her initiatives as outlined in the new strategic plan.”

“President Yam exemplifies the leadership we aspire to inculcate in our students.  She is thoughtful, bold, dedicated and caring.  I am thrilled to have her continue as our President,” noted Sister Kathleen Cornell, Provincial Leader of the School Sisters of Notre Dame’s Atlantic-Midwest Province and board member at NDMU.

Under Dr. Yam’s leadership, and with widespread community engagement, NDMU developed an innovative, five-year strategic plan that will guide enrollment growth and promote transformative education while supporting and advancing its mission and Catholic identity. This includes the launch of a $6.5 million fundraising campaign for the renovation of the landmark Gibbons Hall as the hub of new initiatives in the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020, such as the Center for Social Entrepreneurship, the Institute of Global Leadership, as well as enhanced classroom technology, a media center, and a global digital classroom. 

Recent new partnerships include working with Learning House, a leading provider of educational solutions, to offer fully online academic programs in the areas of business and education, including the new Ph.D. in Leadership in Higher Education, as well as a new partnership with Keswick Multi-Care Center, which will enable students in NDMU’s pharmacy and nursing programs to serve senior citizens with educational programming.

During President Yam’s first year, NDMU was also granted Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status by the United Nations, making it the first institution of higher education in the state with this designation, advancing NDMU’s focus on global partnerships.  With future plans to re-ignite the Women’s Institute of Notre Dame as part of its Strategic Plan, NDMU will host WOW-Baltimore, to be held on the Notre Dame campus October 7-8, 2016, in a collaborative partnership with other Baltimore community organizations. Women of the World (WOW) is a high-profile, global movement of festivals that has engaged more than one million women and men in cities all over the world to celebrate women as a force for positive change.

Dr. Yam joined the Notre Dame community from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J., where she served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  She began her career as a nurse and a nursing educator, and she is still a licensed registered nurse. Dr. Yam earned a B.S. in Nursing from Mercy College and M.A. and Ed.M. degrees in Nursing Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She received a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from Adelphi University, and was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship at The Johns Hopkins University.